Musk took issue with that, saying "Of all the bogus anecdotes, this one troubles me the most". The staggered launch will see the base Model 3 enter production this fall. That's actually better than the Model S provided on a slightly larger battery; the Model S with an 85KWh battery had a range of 253 to 272 miles, depending on the variant you purchased, according to the EPA's figures. Sharing underpinnings with that auto means the Model Y is likely to have a similar range, which is officially pegged at 220 miles, or 320 miles with the long-range battery pack - although battery technology may have moved on by the time the Model Y launches, bringing with it commensurate increase in range.

It would appear one of the people who received their Founders Series Model 3 is Jason Calacanis, the CEO of Inside.com and also one of the early Tesla investors. But - at least for now - it seems like Tesla has appropriately positioned its Model S and Model X as differentiated, premium products. There is hope though when, two months ago, an unofficial record was released. The company is moving too fast in this category; last February, it already had installed 5,000 superchargers in more than 800 supercharger stations worldwide. Yet still, Tesla isn't finished, as it's readying another SUV - the Tesla Model Y. Scaling up Model 3 production, in contrast, means dramatically increasing Tesla's monthly raw materials supply, battery production, and manufacturing speed. There are plans for an electric semi-trailer truck to be revealed later this year and an electric pickup truck by 2019. The vehicle will also have Tesla's autopilot features, including emergency braking system.